Locking device



July" '17, 192s. 1,677,768

c. M. GRAVES LOCKING DEVICE Filed lJuly 23, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 17, 1928. 1,677,768

c. M. GRAVES LOCKING DEVICE Filed July 23, 1927 s sheets-snee; 2

' INVENToR.

.C'izarZeSM Graves ATTORNEY 'July 17', 192s.

C. M. GRAVES LOCKING DEVICE Filed July 23. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VEN TOI? I Cha/Ze SM Gra ve s' Tizi. 1.1.A

Patente-d July 17, 1928.

j UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

CHARLES M. GRAVES, kor NEW YORK, N. Y.

LocxiNennvIcn.

Application led July 23, 1927. Serial No. 207,957.

This vinvention relates to a combination controlled locking device for. locking automobile ignition systems, transmissions, etc., against theft or 'unauthorized operation..`

According to this invention between a' manual actuating device, such as a key or lever, and the actuated device, such as the ignition switch or transmission locking bolt,

' is interposed a displaceable actuating con- Il l') necting member, which latter is thrown in or out of the actuating train by a combination control or other secretform of lock. In such an arrangement additional safety is' secured by reason of having the combination loci; only control the displaceable `actuating conf necting member and not to directly control movement of thefactuated member. In this invention, the manual actuating member is preferably the key of a cylinder loclniior additional security, but the device cannot be actuated unless the operator possesses both the lreyA 'and` the combination. A further characteristic of this invention is that in case of temporary stoppages the ignition can be thrown on and off by the ley 4without locking the combination, yet when it is desired to lock the system the intermediate connect-k ing member controlled by the Vcombination lock be readily disconnected from the actuating train. Provision is vfurther -made for preventing disconnection oi the actuating train when the ignition ison.

This application is a continuation in part ot my copending application, Serial No. 164,153, 'tiled January 28, 1927, entitled Locking device.

The invention is shown herein in several inodiiied forms which will be understood Yfrom the description of the accompanying drawings wherein, o

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the preferred torni adapted tor use in connection with the ignil tion switchot an automobile.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with portions relating to the combination and key controlled means in section.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation with certain parts broken away showing the device in a Vposition in 'which the intermediate Vmember is disengaged. A

Fig. l is a similar view sliowingthe parts in the positions iii-which the intermediate` 4member is engaged. 'i

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through a modified fornio't the apparatus takenon the `line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

showing the parts in their. disengaged relation'. n

n Fig. is a similar view showing the parts in Atheir engaged relation.

Fig.y 11 is a` rear elevation of the `device shown in Figs. 9 and 10.' l y In the preferred form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the invention "comprises a front plate 10, aback plate 11,

connected by bolts 12,.between`which is disposed a casing 13. Ignition or other circuit binding posts 111 are provided. y15 is a lock casing having a cylinder 16 operated by a liey 17 constituting manual actuating means. A gear 18 is connected to the rear of thevcylinder16 to turn therewith. An intermediate .gear constituting'an intermediate combination controlled displaceable element, v, 19

is loosely mounted on sli-aftQO `and is nor-r mally disposed, tas shownin Fig. 1,1out. of engagement with gear 18. The looseness ot' gear 19 on the shaft prevents itl from being used to drive gear 41 by turning ,knob 35. A combination rdevice controls the meshingl and.

Yunmeshingof intermediate gear 19, andconiprises plates 21Wand22 spaced from each other by posts 23, between which are disposed a plurality oi combination discs Q4, 25 and 26, providedv ith the-'usual notches 27,

v28 and 29 which are to be aligned to permit one end L of a pawl Apivotedyat Sito enter the notcheswlien aligned.' The othery end of the pawl is provided with a pin 32which when the notches are not aligned occupies the position showninFig.` 3, but which when the notches are aligned will occupythe position shownin Fig. 4C. In the yposition shown in Fig. 3, the pin 32 lies within the periphery of gear 19 and backof the same as shown in y Fig. 1, preventing the gear 19 from being `ineshed, whereas when the f notches are aligned, the pin 32 is in the position shown in Fig. 4 voutside the area of gear 19, las shown in Fig. 2, and permitting thegear 19 't'ened to'the combination dise-2d A'spring "V40 i's disposedf-b'etween'thelgeair 19'and the "plate21 tending tokee'pthe-gear 19 out of `engagement-'With thefgearv18.

` '-Ac gear 41 is disposed"adjacentithe gear `19 and fastened to' afblo'ck ofinsulating vmatefrial '42.` This "block' carries a "switchA plate andfis 'niountedffrotatably 'on shaft '44.

*The ','s'ivitch pllateiin,v on'epos'i'tion kis adapted '-"tof" bridgef-fcontact finembe'rsili" and "46' connected to bind the binding posts 14 to close i4"any suitable' ciicu'it'such as' the ignition circuit of an automobile. iL/4l' pin`47 carried by 'the block -in one position 'thereof Will bear against, a post 43 -tdlin'iitlthe movement in "fonedi'rection "of theI block and thegear 41.

'Attached 'to the ,'ou'ter Afateci the gear'41 is -a detentp'late l749 'having'an Vextension 50 jfivhich/When theL 'gear-41 v'is 'in a certain posii tion l ivilly lief partially across the "edge of 'Li'gear 19'1ivheirf gear v19"'is'in mesh betWeen ff" 'nV the operation" ot" this formf of the linvention', assumingft-he parts to be in the posit'ion "sho'wnf'n Figi ""1, the combination is yji'n"`op"er'atiive5andthe geart'19 is outioffmesh. The head 34 is disposed 'in'fthe recess '36 Withdrawn"from"tle cylinder 4` 16 and the 'switch plate 43 is'y not bridgingthe contact 'f 1meinbers'45 "and-'46.` Ulrlflfie eritension '50v`of j the plate 49' is 'inv'the" position f'shoWn -in` Fig.

The paxvl isinthe position'shoxvnin Fig. with respect to the* notchesin the coi'nbination'discs 24, 25 and 26. VBy rotating the'knob Whenin this position, a'

l predetermined number of turns in one direction or another, in :accordance witlrthecom- VAbin'atin, the disc's will be successively 'moved in the usual'inannerto align the "notches 27, 23 and29 therein with each f 33A to pullfthe end 300i4 the pawl' into l'the aligned notches and movethe pin 32io`ut of yco 'and 4l. As the knobisthus pulled forward 37so as" tofkeep'ftlielgear 19V inesh'ed even if the device is subjected to vibration.

' v`'Ihekey 17 is then inserted-in` the cylinder 16 and yturned to rotate gear 1Sand through the gear 19, to rotate gear 41, y"movingthe'syvitch plate 43 to bridge the contacts 45 and 46. At -tlie same time the -plate 49 moves With the gear 41 and the extension 5()y thereon extends over the edge of gear 19 when the switch is closed. Consequently the yknob 35,` even" itqturned to Vbring lthe pinr 39Min line with"V keywvayr38, ucould not?4 be` pushed in `to .1dis'engagey @the gear 19, becauseof .this1overlap. Thegear r 19cannot be disengagediuntil the key 17` has 'been moved back toiitsnormal',positiomfand by the'censequent Vmovement of' the .gea-rs, havingturned eiten'sion 50i to the 'position 'shown' inFg. =`3,'fwvherev itxrisclear vof the peripheryof gear-19.A This .prevents throwf ing out Igearw19 With thefignition on. 2 kAfter this hastaken place, the knob canf'beumoved inward by spring 40,'*orep'ushedin to disengage thegear 19. f The'knob 3.5 :by yreason 'et being keyed to'the dial', then 'rotated to upset `the combination, an'drdisalign the `notches inthe combination discs, soi'asjto Y move the pawl` I"to the' position-shown in Fig. 3With1tl-ie` pin 32 back ottheftacefgear 19 to preventit being'idra'ivnforward `again until the pin 'iis removed by 1 oper-ating the Icombination.- The key 17 can onlyfbe' Withdrawn When brought.' back ftoventering fp'osi- "tion, and thecombin'ation is unsetbysturnfing thefdi'al, which happens wheny the knob "is 'niand the intermediate lelementi consequently'is' out.VKHEL f l f By" the combinationrof 'devices described,

a controlled or actuatedr'element, suchias manually by adevi'ce such "as aykeyl 17, through an lintermediate4 disengageable `member 'such Aasgear 19',Wh1ch latter is secretly controlled' by thef fcombin'ation `lock device. Specifically, the latter .device controls the bodily shifting offgear 19 toi mesh and unmeshit, and by reason'oif the loose mounting gear 1-9, does not drive itto actluate either the controlled element, as switch `43, or the manual actuating element, as

key 17. f

In the modiied `form shown-in Figs.' 5 to 7 inclusiveylr is af'suitabl'e support, such 'as they instrument board of an automobile; '52 is a casing containing the device and on Which its parts are mountedg 53 is afflange *permitting the attachment offthecasing to the support; 54,' 55 and 56 are'gears, the gear 55, asv shown, being` normally out of mesh with the gears 54 and 56; `Y'SZisashatt movable Withv the gear-54 'and Acarrying an A 'f 58 vv`1"vhich when moved" Willbridge i the contacts to close an^electrical circuit which 'may contain' anbatt'ery .159e-and afzsole- "noid59b"`which may tbe :associated with: a locking` mechanism of the transmission gears.

60 is a shaft, of which one end loosely supports the gear 55, the other end of which carries a graduated knob 61, having .an inner bore in which a spring`62 is disposed, tending normally to move the knob 61 and the shaft 60 outwardly of the easing; 63 represents the casing of a cylinder lock of the type in which a barrel 63a receives a key 64 having notches in its edge to co-act with spring pressed plugs such as 64a in the' usual manner to permit the barrel to be rotated (see Fig. 7 )g a shaft 56a connected tothe rear of the barrel 632L fiXedly supports the gear 56; 65 is a block fixedly mounted within the casing and having a notch or slot 66 in 'one edge; 67 is a sleeve disposed rotatably within a hore inthe block having a plate 68 at its inner end, said plate being provided with a notch or slot 69. The front end of t-he sleeve 67 is provided with a graduated dial 70 disposed against the frontl of the casing and between the casing vand the knob 6l. Fixedly mounted on the shaft 60 is a disc 71 having on one face thereof a stepped lug 72 provided with stepped por.

tions 73 and 74.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 8, the casing 75 corresponds to the casing 52 and may be attached adjacent the casing 76 of the automobile transmission. The gear 77 corresponds to the gear 54 in Fig. 5 and gear 78 corresponds to the gear 55, which is attached in this case also to a combination lock device inthe manner previously described. In this modification, however, the gear 77 instead of actuating a switcharm, such as 58, is adapted to actuate a rack member 79 mounted in guides 80 and 81 and projectinef` through an aperture 82 in the casing 76. The end of this rack member, in the form of a bolt, projects into a notch 83 in the bar 84 or other element associated with the transmission so as to prevent its movement in either direction.

In the operation of the device shown in Fig. 5, it is necessary to have the key and to know the combination. If the combination is known. the dial 70 is moved to the proper position bringing the slot 69 in alignment with the slot 66. The knob is then turned to the proper position bringing the lug 72 in alignment with these two slots and permitting the spring 62 to move the shaft forward and thus' permitting the gear' 55 to mesh withL the gears 54 and 56, this meshing being permitted by reason of the fact that the stepped portions 7 3 and. 74 of thelug 72 are in line with the slots 66 and 69 and can move thereinto. The gears 54, 55 and 56 being in mesh, the introduction of the key 64 into the barrel 6.3"of the cylinder lock will so align `the spring pressed plugs 64a as to enable the barrel to be rotated by the key. This rotation will turn the shaft 562L and with it the gear 56. Thev movement of gear 56 transmitted through gear 55 to gear 54 will cause lshaft 57 to turn thus swinging the switchl arm 58 into a position to bridge the con-.

tacts 59. To disconnect the device it is necessary to move the key to a position to withdraw it after which the knob is pushed inwardly and turned. The dial 70 is also. preferably turned to disalign the slot 69 from the slot 66.

In the operation of the modification shown in Fig. 8, the procedure is as above with the key and the combination lock to mesh the gear 78 with the gear 77 `and when the key is'turned vwill cause thel projection of the 'rack bolt 79 into thefnotch`83 of the portion 84 of the transmission and lock it. Towithdraw this bolt, the keyY must be turned whereupon it can be removed and the combination unsetas above mentioned.

In the modification shown in Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, a lock without gears is shown. It comprises plate 85 supporting a cylinder lock 86 having a key barrel 87 from the rear end of which extends an veccentrically` disposed pin'88. This pin` projects into a slot 89 in a bar 90s1idably disposed against the rear face of the lock casing. A set screw 91 is screwed into the rear face of the casing 86 through a longitudinal slot 92 in the bar 90. the form of atapered fork 93. This forked portion extends toward and is disposedo'n either side of a slidable shaft94 of a combination lock device.

, This combinationlock device may be ofv any suitable type either of the type shown in Fig. 2 or the type rshown in Fig. 5 and The opposite end of the bar is i-n as illustrated comprises a knob 95 on the front end of the shafta'nd a slotted head 96 on the rear end thereof. Between the head 96 and the main portion of the shaft is a reduced .portion 97. The combination lock preferably comprises a' plurality of combination discs such as 98, 99 and100 which may be operated lin the manner above described to permit the' shaft thereof to Vbe moved forward and backward.

`The bar190 is provided with an offset parallel portion 101 which extends through the slot vin the head 96. 'A spring 102 on this offset portion is also disposed in the slot and tends to move the shaft of the combination lock forward. when the combination is set. The other end of this offset portion is provided with a contact head 103 adapted to engage spring contact members 104 and 105 mounted on a.y post 106 andy connected to any desired circuit.

In the operation of this modification, assuming the parts are in the position shown in 9 and in the full line position shown in Fig. 11, the switch is open andthe combination is inoperative and lthe shaftv94 is moved inward so thatthe 4main portion of it is embraced by the forked portion 93 of the bar 90, the dimension of which is such that the bar 90 cannot be moved forward by the introduction of a key in the cylinder barrel 87 until the combination has been set and the shaft 94 been drawn forward or moved forward by the spring 102 to the position shown in Fig. l() where the reduced portion 97 of the shaft comes in line with the forked portion 93 and by reason of its small diameter will permit the key to move the bar for ward. r)This movement of the bar will. move the offset portion lOl forward engaging the Contact head 103 with the spring means 101i, and lO closing the desired circuit. in this closed position of the circuit it will be observed-that the shaft 94, see Fig. l0, cannot be moved backward because in this position with the circuit closed, the forked portion 93 of the bar 90 has been moved forward to the dotted bosition shown in Fig. ll and is too small. in widthV for the shaft to pass through and consequently` acts as a barrier until the key has withdrawn the bar and opened the circuit.

t will therefore be observed that in all these modifications the key cannot be oper-- ated effectively to close the circuit or to per `form its function unless the comliination has been; set and the element controlled by the combination has been moved into the desired position.

Various modifications and changes may be madein the various details shown and described without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. A locking device comprising a manually operated actuating member, a combination controlled element, a member to be actuated, means controlled by the combination lock'to prevent the actuation of one member by the other until the combination has been set, and means preventing,- disconnection of saidmembers until the actuated member has been returned to normal position.

2. A locking' device comprising a manually operated actuating; member, a combina tion device. a member to be actuated. means controlled by the combination device to dis-- connect one member from the other until the combination is set, and'means preventing; the combination lock from being unset until the members have been returned to normal position.

3. A locking device comprising spaced members, a manually operated means for actuat-ins,` one of said members, a third member normallyout of engagement with the first and s cond members, a combination lock device-associated with the third member and adapted when set to permit the third member to'be moved into position to engage with the first and second members, and said third member being' only actuated by said iirst member.

4. A. locking device comprising lspaced members, a. key operated cylinder lock associated with one of said men'ibers for actuating the same when the key is operated7 a third member normally out of engagement with the first and second members, anda combination lock device associated with the third member and adapted when set to permit the third member to be moved into posi-- tion to engage with the first and second members.

5. A locking; device comprising spaced members, a key operated cylinder lock` associated with one of said members for actuating' the same when the hey is operated, a

third member normally out of engagement with the lirst and second members, and a combination loch device associatedwiththe third member and adapted when set to per mit the third member to be moved into position to engagewith the first and second members, the combination lock lrnob beine` mounted to move the third member into and out of engagement.

6. A locking` device comprising spaced actuating and actuated members, an interme diate connecting member bodily movable into and out of actuating' connection, and a combination locl controlling` said interme diate member and having its knob movable when set to move said intermediate member into andA out of connection.

A. locking device comprising' spacca aetuating and actuated members. an intermerdiate connecting member bodily `movable .f

into and out of actuating` connection, and a combination lock controlling,l said intermediate member and having` its knob movable when set to move said intermediate member into and out of connection. said combination lock being` incapable ofmoving said actuated member. p y

8. A locking device comprising'the combination with a gear to be actuatechof a heyoperated gear for actuatingsaid Erst men-` tioned gear7 and a combination controlled gear for connecting` and disconnecting the other two gears.

9. A locking device comprising a memberto be actuated,`a manuallyoperated actuatingmember normally disconnected therefrom and an intermediate .combination controlled connecting; vmember adapted to be interposed between the first twok members only when the combination is set, to permit the actuation of the one member bythe other.

l0. A locking device comprising gears, manual meansv for' operatingr said gears, a third gear normally out of mesh with the irst and second gears, a combination controlled means associated with the third gear and adapted when set to permit the third gear to be movedV into posispaced one of tion to mesh with the lirst and second gears, and means tor moving said third gear into said position as soon as the combination is set.v

11. A locking device comprising spaced members, ay key-operated cylinder lock as-r sociated with one of said members for actuating the same when the key is operated, a third member normally out of engagement with the iirst and second members, a combination loclr device associated with the third member and adapted when set to permit'the` third member to be moved into positionto engage with the first and second members,

and `means for moving said third member 13. A locking device comprising an actu# ating member, an actuated member, means for moving' the actuating` member, an intermediate member normally out of engagement with the actuating and actuated members, a shaft on which said intermediate member is loosely mounted, a combination loclr element associated and movable with said shaft, a tired combination element adjacent the shat't having a slot therein, a movable combination element adjacent the shalt and having a slot therein, said element adapted to be moved to align its slotwith that in the lixed element whereby as the shaft is turned the combination lock element associated therewith can be moved into said slots permitting the intermediate member to engage with the actuating and actuated members.

i 14. A locking device comp-rising a meinber to be actuated, a manually operated actuating member normally disconnected theretroin, an intermediate combination controlled connecting member adapted to be interposed between the first two members to permit the actuation of one member by the other. means controlled by the combination member to prevent the engagement of the intermediate member with the other tWo members until'the combination has been set, and means associated with the actuated member to prevent the disengagement of the intermediate member after the co1nbi.

nation has beeni'setkuntil the actuated and actuating members have been returned to their normal position.

1'5. A locking device comprising a manually operated ,actuating member, a combination controlled device associated with said actuating member, said `device havingl operative and inoperative positions, said device in one position preventing the movement of the actuating member, means permitting the movement `of said device to the other lposition when the combination is set to permit the movement of the actuating mem'- ber, and means for preventing the return vof the device to its normal position after the combination has been s et until kthe actuating member has been returnedto its normal position.

16. A `locking device comprising a'manually operated actuating member, a separated actuated member, an intermediate displaceable connecting member, a separate manually actuated combination device for controlling said connecting member, and means controlled by the actuating member for preventing disconnecting .movement of said connect-ing member by its manual ycontrolling means except when said connecting member and the actuated member are in a certain relative engaged position.` Y'

' Signed at New York city, in the county of New York. and State of New York, this 19th day of July, A. D. 1927.

CHARLES M. GRAVES. 

